ce is of no great importance, hardly
amounting to as much as is necessary to defray the charges of the
government. It was at this time, however, expected to turn out to
better account, as a rich gold-mine had been recently discovered. The
natives are a middle-sized people, strong and active, more faithful
than their neighbours, and better affected towards the Europeans. In
religion they are mostly Mahometans or Pagans; but of late many of
them had become Christians, chiefly occasioned by their king having
declared himself of that religion, a point of great consequence
towards the conversion of the people. The inhabitants of Ternate
make a species of palm wine, called _Seggeweer_, which is excessively
strong. There are here many most beautiful birds, having feathers
of all sorts of colours, charmingly diversified, which are sent to
Batavia, where they are sold at high prices on account of their beauty
and docility, as they may be taught to sing finely, and to imitate the
human voice. Many Birds-of-Paradise are also brought from this island.
There are several sorts of these birds. The most common kind is
yellow, having small bodies, about eight inches long exclusive of the
tail, which is half a yard long, and sometimes more. The second kind
is red, the third blue, and the fourth black. These last are the
most beautiful and most in request, being called the King of the
Birds-of-Paradise. This kind has a crown or tuft of feathers on the
top of its head, which lies flat or is raised up at pleasure. In this
they resemble the _cadocus_ or cockatoo, a bird entirely white, with a
yellow crown on its head.

The sixth government is Malacca, which city is the capital of a
small kingdom of the same name, inhabited by Malayans or Malays. The
governor here is a merchant, and is assisted by a council like all the
others. This kingdom of Malacca is the south part of the peninsula of
India beyond the Ganges, being divided from the island of Sumatra by
a strait, named the strait of Malacca. This city is of considerable
size, and carries on an extensive commerce, for which it is admirably
situated, and is the storehouse or emporium of all that part of India.
It is also the rendezvous of all the homeward-bound ships from Japan,
which make at this place a distribution of their merchandise into
various assortments, which are sent from hence to all the settlements
of the company in India. It is however subject to the great
inconvenience of sc